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With a velvety sound primarily rooted in soul and hip hop, Chicago’s Jamila Woods made her first big impact on the music scene in 2015 with her fan adored vocal features on Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment’s Surf album (Sunday Candy and Questions).

Prior to her 2015 solo breakout, Jamila was one half of adventure soul band, M&O. The duo, which also included good friend Owen Hill, released two projects— including a feature from Chance the Rapper — and received exceptional praise from Okayplayer, Spin and Ebony Magazine.

Following Surf, Jamila contributed her voice and perspective to White Privilege II, a Macklemore & Ryan Lewis record that examines racial issues concerning Americans today. Within days, Jamila also released her debut solo single, blk girl soldier, a song highly revered by Billboard, Essence and Jezebel for its bold exploration of both Blackness and womanhood.

In July 2016, Woods released her critically acclaimed album, ​Heavn, her first full-length solo project, which focuses on black girlhood, Chicago, and the city/world we aspire to live in. The album has received enthusiastic reviews from Pitchfork, MTV, Nylon, and Noisey, among many others. ​

With musical influences ranging from Erykah Badu and Imogen Heap to Kendrick Lamar and Kirk Franklin, Jamila’s plush sound is distinguished by the art of choral layering in addition to the hip-hop tradition of sampling and allusions. Utilizing the power of voice, poetry and writing, Jamila aims to create unapologetic music to soundtrack life for and about Black women around the world.